A Simplified Model To Predict the Effect of Increasing Atmospheric CO2 on Carbonate Chemistry in the OceanBrian J. Bozlee, Maria Janebo, and Ginger JahnThe chemistry of dissolved inorganic carbon in seawater is reviewed and used to predict the potential effect of rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is found that calcium carbonate may become unsaturated in cold surface seawater by the year 2100, resulting in the destruction of calcifying organisms such as coral.Bozlee, Brian J.; Janebo, Maria; Jahn, Ginger. J. Chem. Educ.2008, 85, 213.

Applications of Chemistry |

Aqueous Solution Chemistry |

Atmospheric Chemistry |

Equilibrium |

Green Chemistry |

Water / Water Chemistry

Experimental Determination of Ultraviolet Radiation Protection of Common MaterialsSusana C. A. Tavares, Joaquim C. G. Esteves de Silva, and João PaivaThe oxidation of iodide is used as an indicator for the degree of exposure to UV radiation and to investigate the protection given by a simulation of ozone using plexiglass plates, sunscreen lotions, cotton cloth with different colors, and aqueous solutions with different concentrations of natural organic matter.Tavares, Susana C. A.; Esteves de Silva, Joaquim C. G.; Paiva, João. J. Chem. Educ.2007, 84, 1963.

Importance of AirVolume 03, issue 08 of a series of leaflets covering subjects of interest to students of elementary chemistry distributed in 1929 - 1932.

Atmospheric Chemistry

The AirVolume 05, issue 09 of a series of leaflets covering subjects of interest to students of elementary chemistry distributed in 1929 - 1932.

Atmospheric Chemistry

Molecular Models of Volatile Organic CompoundsWilliam F. ColemanThis month's Featured Molecules come from the Report from Other Journals column, Nature: Our Atmosphere in the Year of Planet Earth, and the summary found there of the paper by Lelieveld et al. (1, 2) Added to the collection are several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted by a variety of plants. The term VOCs is a common one in environmental chemistry, and is interpreted quite broadly, typically referring to any organic molecule with a vapor pressure sufficiently high to allow for part-per-billion levels in the atmosphere. Common VOCs include methane (the most prevalent VOC), benzene and benzene derivatives, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and many others. The source may be natural, as in the case of the plant emissions, or anthropogenic, as in the case of a molecule such as the gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).The oxidation of isoprene in the atmosphere has been a source of interest for many years. Several primary oxidation products are included in the molecule collection, although a number of isomeric forms are also possible (3).The area of VOCs provides innumerable topics for students research papers and projects at all levels of the curriculum from high-school chemistry through the undergraduate courses in chemistry and environmental science. Along the way students have the opportunity for exposure to fields such as epidemiology and toxicology, that may be new to them, but are of increasing importance in the environmental sciences. The MTBE story is an interesting one for students to discover, as it once again emphasizes the role that unintended consequences play in life. An exploration of the sources, structures, reactivity, health and environmental effects and ultimate fate of various VOCs reinforces in students minds just how interconnected the chemistry of the environment is, a lesson that bears repeating frequently.